”From impossible to possible”

Overcoming disabilities with passion, theatrically touching yet not exaggerating, the Sochi 2014 Paralympics came to a grand finale on March 16.

Lee Seok-rae (right), mayor of Pyeongchang, waves the International Paralympic flag upon receiving it from the International Paralympic Committee President Sir Philip Craven (left). (photo: Yonhap News)

With a record high 45 participating countries, athletes showed off all their hard work over the past few years. Team Korea was represented by 27 athletes in four sports: cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, wheelchair curling and ice sledge hockey. This year’s games ended with invaluable experience for the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympics, despite the lack of any actual medals.

Host country Russia won the games with 30 gold medals. Germany, Canada, Ukraine and France were runners-up.

Flag bearers representing their countries march beneath the word ”Possible” during the Sochi 2014 Paralympics closing ceremony. (photo: Yonhap News)

Russia put on a closing ceremony inspired by Tetris, the widely popular video game invented by a fellow countryman, changing the word "Impossible” to "I’m Possible.”

The mayor of Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do, the host of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, Lee Seok-rae received the International Paralympic flag from the International Paralympic Committee President Sir Philip Craven. After the flag was handed over, a performance entitled "A Journey Together” invited the crowds to the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympics.

Team Korea waves the national flag, the Taegeukgi, and PyeongChang 2018 banners while entering the stadium for the Sochi 2014 Paralympics closing ceremony on March 16. (photo: Yonhap News)

While Seok Chang-woo, a painter with prosthetic arms, drew the five disciplines of the Paralympic Winter Games on the snow, gugak starlet Song So-hee sang Arirang, a lyrical folk song which is now a UNESCO World Heritage item. As Arirang resonated across the stadium, 20 dancers from the Gangwon Performing Arts Company held up their long fluid sleeves and invited the world to the upcoming PyeongChang 2018 Paralympics, drawing cheers from the audience.

Meanwhile, PyeongChang Day was held on March 9 in the Olympic village, where Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and Paralympics Organizing Committee President Kim Jin-seon promised to do his best for the PyeongChang games, so that they can open new horizons for the Olympics and build on what occurred here in Sochi.

By Jeon Han, Paik Hyun
Korea.net Staff Writers
hanjeon@korea.kr